Government to monitor condition of Indian sailors in real time as Hormuz conflict claims more lives

Image used for representational purposes. File | Photo credit: Reuters

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday (July 14, 2026) ordered a comprehensive ‘Sailor First’ response to protect Indian crew operating in the conflict-hit Strait of Hormuz. The order comes as the maritime security situation in West Asia worsens following attacks on two merchant vessels in the Straits.

Mr. Sonowal ordered vessel-by-vessel real-time monitoring of Indian seafarers and directed the appointment of dedicated liaison officers for each affected Indian seafarer.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) will continuously coordinate the response in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Indian Navy, Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), Indian Missions in Iran, Oman and UAE as well as other maritime stakeholders.

This follows attacks on merchant vessels MT Al Bahiyah and MT Mombasa in the Strait of Hormuz. Both ships had a combined 30 Indian crew for a total strength of 46.

One Indian sailor was killed and another injured on board MT Al Bahiyah, while nine Indian nationals on board MT Mombasa sustained injuries, including two who remain critically injured.

Mr. Sonowal expressed grief over the victims and condemned the attacks on civilian merchant vessels, saying India expressed its strong disapproval of such incidents that threatened innocent seafarers who play a vital role in maintaining global supply chains. He assured the affected families of all possible government support.

Operations dashboard

The Minister directed the Secretary, MoPSW and Director General Shipping to create a comprehensive operational dashboard to track every Indian seafarer on board vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, irrespective of the ship’s flag.

The dashboard will provide real-time information on the vessel’s location, ownership, cargo, crew welfare, threat levels, intended voyage, next port of call and availability of food, fuel, medicine and communication equipment.

Mr. Sonowal also instructed officials to ensure that every vessel plying through the affected waters conducts a fresh threat assessment before setting sail.

Ship owners, vessel managers and licensed recruitment and placement agencies have been asked to submit compliance reports confirming that no Indian seafarer is forced to sail without adequate information, protection and support. He reiterated that the government’s response would remain firmly focused on the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers.

Published – 14 Jul 2026 21:51 IST